Aiming device



B. D. SULLIVAN AIMING DEVICE Sept 17, 1957 Filed Nov. 18, 1955,

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AIMING ,DEVICE Y Filed Nov. 18. '1955 2 Sheecs-Shee?l 2 INVEN TOR. BYQQN D. SuLLwAN AT TO QN EYS United Sttes This invention relates to sighting systems, and more particularly to an improved reticle device for use in a telescopic sighting system, or in a similar sighting system.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved aiming device for use in the sighting system of'a firearm or in any other sighting system, the aiming device being suitable for use in a wide variety of applications including firearms, surveying instruments, range finders, binoculars, and the like, the aiming device providing accurate sighting, making it easier and quicker to exactly locate the center of a target, and serving to provide rapid and accurate information of the range distance of a target toward which the sighting system is directed.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved aiming and range finding reticle for a sighting system, said reticle being simple in construction, being inexpensive to manufacture, and enabling the user not only to quickly and accurately locate the center of a target but'als'o to determine the Arange distance of the target.

Further objects and advantages yof the invention will become apparent from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a telescopic sighting system employing an improved reticle Iconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view illustrating the appearance of a target as viewed through the telescopic sighting system of Figure l with the target centered by means 'of the reticle of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a view as obtained through the telescopic sighting system of Figure l on game and illustrating the manner in which the game may be centered in the sighting system by the use of the reticle of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged front View of the reticle employed in the telescopic sighting system of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a front View of a modified form of reticle constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 7 is a front View of a further modification of reticle according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 5, 11 generally designates a telescopic sighting system which comprises a telescope tube 12 containing an objective lens 13, a collector lens 14, an erector lens 15, a reticle 16, and an eyepiece lens 17, arrranged as illustrated with the reticle 16 in the focal plane of the eyepiece 17 and located between said eyepiece and the erector lens 15, the above elements being supported in any suitable manner in the telescope tube 12.

As will be readily understood, the sighting system 11 may be employed with a firearm, or with any other device requiring accurate sighting of a target or other distant object. In the arrangement of Figures 1 to 5 it is assumed that the telescopic system 11 will be ernployed with a firearm and that said system is directed arent 0 2,806,287 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 ice toward a target, such as the target 18 illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the reticle 16 comprises a ring-like supporting member 19 to which is secured a first pair of spaced parallel linear elements, for example, the parallel wires 20, 20 located symmetrically on opposite sides of the center of the ring 19, the ends of the wires 20 being secured in any suitable manner to said ring, as shown in Figure 4. Designated at 21, 21 is a second pair of spaced parallel linear elements, comprising Wires similar to the wires 20, 20, the wires 21 being secured to the ring member 19 in perpendicular overlying relationship to the wires 20, 20 and spacedV symmetrically on opposite sides of the center of the ring 19, as shown in Figure 4. Thus, the overlapping wires 20 and 21 define a square centrally located in the ring-like support 19.

Spacing between the wires 21, 21 and the wires 20, 20 is substantially identical, whereby the center of the square above defined coincides with the center ofV the ring 19. Designated at 23, 23 are respective hairline elements, comprising very fine wires, lor other suitable filament elements which are connected respectively at their ends to the midpoints of the wires 20 and 21, as shown at 24 and 25 in Figure 4.

Since the hairline elements 23 are connected to th midpoints of the wires 20 and 21, the hairline elements 23 .intersect at the exact center of the square defined by the overlapping wires 20 and 21, said center being also the center of the ring-like member 19, the intersection being shown at 26 and being provided with a small globule of suitable material and of definite diameter deposited 'on the intersecting hairline elements 23. l

The spacing between the wires 20, 20 and 21, 21 is an accurately known value, which corresponds to a known width at a specific distance, so that the range of an object of known diameter viewed between the wires 2t), 2i) and 21, 21, and centered therein, for example, the target element 27 in Figure 2, will be automatically determined. For example, the spacing between the wires 20, 20 and 21, 21 may be made to correspond to one minute of angle or one inch at lone hundred yards, the range being thus directly proportional to the known width of the object covered between the wires 20, 20 or 21, 21.

As will be readily apparent, a target, such as the target center 27 in Figure 2 my be accurately centered in the sighting system by means of the reticle 16, by centering the target element 27 in the square defined by the overlapping wires 20, 20 and 21, 21, and by locating the center point 26 on the center of the target element 27.

The center globule 26 may be also employed as a range finder. For example, said globule may be formed of a proper size to cover an object of one inch diameter at a range of yards, or to subtend one minute of angle at 100 yards.

When the firearm is employed for sighting on game, the reticle 16 may be employed for centering the sighting system on the game in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, employing the intersection of the hairlines 23 to locate the desired target on the game.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, a plurality of concentric ring elements of different diameters, shown at 28, and 29 are secured on the wire members 20, 2t) and 21, 21 in overlying relationship thereto and in concentric relation with the support ring 19, the inner circular element 28 having a diameter substantially equal to the diagonal of the square defined by the overlapping wires 20, 26 and 21, 21, and the additional ring element 29 having a substantially larger diameter, as illustrated. The circular elements 28 and 29 assist the user of the rearm or other device with which the sighting system is employed in quickly locating the exact center of the target.

The wires 21, 21 are preferably located horizontally and the wires 20, 20 .are preferably located vertically S9 that the wires 21, 21 make it easier for the user to keep the firearm or otherV device employing the sighting system in a level position.

The inner circular element 28 in Figure 6 assists Vthe u ser in locating the exact center of the target, whereas the additional ring element 29 makes it easier for the user to locate the center of the field of view.

In the modified reticle illustrated in Figure 7, the inner and intermediate ring elements 28 and 29' are supported on respective horizontal radialrwire elements 2.1', 2.1 secured at their ends to diametrically opposite points on the main support ring v19, the circular members 28', 29. being also supported on vertical wire elements 20', 20 secured at diametrically kopposite points o n the ring 19 and extending radially in alignment with each other and being perpendicular to the horizontal elements 2,1', Y21. The horizontal and vertical hairline elements 23' and 24 are respectively secured at their ends to the inner ends ofthe elements 21', 2,1 and 20', 20', as shown, the intersection of the hairline elements 23', 24 being covered by a globule 26' of suitable material, as shown. The circular wire elements 28 and 29' are concentric with the main support ring 19, and the intersection 26 of the hairline elements 23', 24 is located at the exact center of the ring elements 19, 28 and 29. Thus, the ring element v29' facilitates the location of the center of the field of view, Whereas the inner circular element 28 makes it easier to quickly locate the exact center of the target.

In the above described embodiments of the invention, the globule 26 or 26' may be omitted if so desired.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved aiming device fora sighting system have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

In a telescopic sighting system, an aiming and rangefinding reticle comprising a ring-like support, a rst pair of spaced parallel linear elements secured to said support and located symmetrically on opposite sides of its center, a second pair of spaced parallel linear elements, means securing said second pair of linear elements in perpendicular overlying relationship to the first pair and spaced symmetrically on opposite sides of the center of said support, the spacing between the first and second pair of linear elements being substantially identical, whereby said tirst and second linear elements define a square in the central portion of said support, respective hairline members connecting the midpoints of said pairs of linear elements and extending across said square, a small globule of material of predetermined diameter on the intersection of said hairline members, and a plurality of ring elements of ditierent diameters secured to said linear elements outside said square c oncentrically in said ring-like support, the inner ring element having a diameter equal to the diagonal of said square.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 591,153 Berger Oct. 5, 1897 803,435 Saegmuller Oct. 31, 1905 2,281,772 Klemperer May .5, 1942 2,420,503 Stechbart May 13, 1947 2,431,254 'stein -l sept. 6, 1949 2,601,726 Myers s July 1, 1952 

